By Nur Asena Erturk
The head of NATO urged allied states to ramp up production Tuesday to meet Ukraine's needs as it fights against Russia.
"Russia's war against Ukraine has depleted allied stocks," Jens Stoltenberg said at a news conference with the Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Stockholm.
"Ramping up production is essential to meet Ukraine's needs and to ensure our own defenses. Speed and volume matters," he added, noting that "Russia prepares to use winter as a weapon of war."
Stoltenberg thanked Sweden "for its major financial, humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine," including its latest $200 million in a support package for ammunition and equipment to Ukraine.
- Mideast conflict
Stoltenberg noted the importance of protecting civilians in the Middle East amid the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
"I welcome efforts to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza," he said. "Iran and Hezbollah should not take advantage of the conflict. It is important that this situation doesn't escalate further."
The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.
It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
- Sweden's accession to NATO
Stoltenberg also welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s signing of Sweden’s NATO accession protocol Monday.
Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership soon after Russia launched a “special military operation” against Ukraine in February 2022.
Türkiye previously approved Finland's membership to NATO but had said it was waiting for Sweden to abide by a trilateral memorandum signed in June 2022 in Madrid to address Ankara's security concerns.
"Sweden has highly capable forces and years of experience operating with NATO,” said Stoltenberg. “Sweden's membership will make NATO stronger.”